gamewell45

Sure, after you work on your reading comprehension. I never said "exterior firefighter" I said "firefighter helpers".

Because that is what it is going to take if you want the term removed. While the NFPA may not define exterior firefighters, certain departments do and that's something that people in the fire service will just have to live with.

Then take the Village of Port Chester to task for misleading the public. In the meantime I stand by my opinion that your term was divisive and was totally unnecessary. It would be the same if I referred to interior firefighters as fire extinguishers since that is a major part of what they do; I doubt many firefighters would embrace that term; in fact I suspect many would take offense at it. If you find term firefighter objectionable when it's applied to Exterior personnel, fine but there is no need to be divisive; instead work for reform to legally change the titles if it offends you so much. Being divisive accomplishes absolutely nothing positive.

If you feel that strongly, it might behoove you to write to your state legislator requesting that they change the laws to require the badges and banners, to reflect the actual correct title as you deem fit.

Perhaps you could share those sites with us ?

Ok that's fine; my point was there is no need to use a divisive term as the OP did in his post. If in fact people feel this is a misleading term, then perhaps they should push to make it state law where any FD has to list by category and job function what each firefighter does and make it available to the public. That will solve the advertising problem.

So are you saying you've never heard the term before?

Barry, I googled your term "Firefighter Helpers" and there is nothing listed under that. Therefore I'm going to conclude that it is nothing more then a divisive term you threw into the mix. The term "exterior" is more appropriate in this case and I'm sure you are well aware of what Exterior Firefighters roles are in the fire service.

And it's unlikely to change anytime soon; you want a career department that's fine, but it comes with a cost attached to it and the taxpayers don't want to pay the costs; they'd rather roll the dice. The biggest problem with volunteer departments is getting the apparatus out in a timely fashion; most departments resist having bunk-in's at the fire stations which would cut response time dramatically instead relying on the volunteers to get out of bed and respond to the firehouse for apparatus. Until the mindset changes, nothing will change.

You are 100% correct; that was a mis-read on my part. My apologies.

I'm surprised because normally most labor contracts have language regarding termination for just cause, in which the burden of proof lays on the employer, who must make their case before an impartial umpire or neutral third party. If clearly the infraction didn't really warrant termination, they the employee would not lose his/her job or at least it stands to reason.

Career Firefighters from the Arlington Fire District have reached a 5 year agreement on a new labor contract. It includes a 2% pay increase beginning January 1, 2017 and a switch in medical benefits provider. It also provides for the district to hire commercial Ambulance firms to transport patients to hospitals, thus eliminating department staffed ambulances; however both career and volunteers will still respond to EMS calls to provide emergency care. http://www.afd.org/Pdf/051616PressReleaseonreachingagreement.pdf

It's quite possible that what you propose may occur; i'm wondering if that's what the Board of Commissioners ultimately want to happen.

Apparently so.

It gives them the right to contract out the work to any paid commercial ambulance firm they so choose. As I understand it, AFD will still send an engine or other vehicle to provide emergency care until arrival of the PCA.

I think it's been around 15 years now since Pawling, NY disbanded its police force. It happened at one of the village board meetings when a motion was made to disband the entire force and turn police matters over the county Sheriff's Office. There were a lot of shocked people in the village, including members of the police department.

I would suggest that a representative from career staff meet with the Captains from each volunteer company and lay their cards on the table and see what the volunteers will do to help their Brothers.

Kinkchaser; you are correct; this will not solve all the labor problems in America and its not supposed to, but you have to start somewhere; of course we can keep putting off the issue and nothing will get done and it'll be business as usual. If you read the last paragraph in my posting I listed things that may help the Brothers in getting some action done which may restore their jobs. You need reach out to the vollies and form a working partnership, but keep in mind the thrust of my post. If we are all going to be unionists, they we have to work together as a team and not play the role but work the role.

First off, I've been involved as a labor activist for over 37 years and spent time on picket lines with both private and public sector unions that I'm not affiliated with and engaged in numerous actions including organizing to help my union and others bring rights to the workplace. That being said, I can tell you that in this case, it appears both sides are a part of the same hypocrisy; how many firefighters who are union/volunteers do you see shopping at Walmart (Who is on the AFL-CIO's hit list for anti-union activities) or union "brothers" buying foreign made automobiles or doing side jobs on their days off doing carpentry or plumbing, taking jobs away from union tradesman?? It seems at times that some of us wrap ourselves in the flag of unionism only when it affects us, ie. contract talks, layoffs, etc. But if some other union has an issue, in some cases, it falls on deaf ears since it doesn't impact on us directly. What your seeing in Port Chester is precisely what i'm talking about. Perhaps if all members practiced what they preached when it's contract time 24/7, you'd you'd see more of a partnership of working together particularly in situations like what is going with the Brothers in Port Chester When I was on strike in 1987 I got to watch firefighters cross our picket lines with the excuse being "we have an obligation to protect civilians and save lives" Well, it wouldn't surprise me if the vollies in Port Chester are of the same mentality. While the vollies may not refuse to get the trucks on the road, they can participate in informational picketing, getting signatures for petitions to restore the laid off brothers jobs, helping to campaign for elected officials who are pro-union, etc. We should all be working towards a working partnership as opposed to one of division. Food for though my Brothers.

My son is a career FF down in SC, it's non-union (State law says municipalities are not required to recognize unions) and every year he has to undergo a rigorous physical exam. If you fail it you have 60 days to meet the standards and if not, then you are out of a job. No and's, if's or buts, your gone -- no union to go to bat for you. Every morning everyone on shift exercises for 45 minutes (they stagger it so not everyone is exercising at the same time) to help them remain in shape.

You do the possible; the impossible is just going to have to wait.

I suspect that most of the citizens could care less as long as the trucks show up. Most of them are ignorant on how the fire department operates.

That'll work out just fine until one of the pachyderms gets caught in a fire and ends up being a roast, then you'll have the environmentalists screaming bloody murder.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the deceased Brother's family and friends. Pray for a speedy recovery for the survivors in the ambulance as well.

Nice photo's; thanks for posting them!